Process for destroying bacteria



Patented Mar. 25, 1941 [TED STATES PATENT. orrics.

PROCESS FOR DESTROYING BACTERIA Richard Miiller, Berlin, Germany NoDrawing. Application July 19, 1938, Serial No.

I 220,138. I In Germany October 16, 1936 2 Claims. (Cl. 167-14) Thebactericidal action of silver ions in soluand when air is passed overthem, will produce tion is known. silver-containing air or gases.

Now, this invention has for its object the use ,A still furtherembodiment of this invention of silver or silver compounds in avaporized conresides in electrically heating resistance-wires 5 dition;for, it has been found that silver even not alloyable with silver, andthus also heating 5 in this state proves a strong bactericide eflec't.silver or silver compounds of alloys respectively,

Another object of this invention resides in arranged on the surface ofsuch wires; it is also suitable methods of preparing gaseousdislnfectpossible to coat such heating wires or rods with a ing means,more particularly air containing silver thin insulating layer beforeapplying the silveror silver compounds. These and other objectscontaining substance. The heating material 10 will more clearly readfrom the following can also, like in case of the so-calledNernstspecification. V lamp, be an electric conductor of third classIL'for example, air or any other gas be passed. which is only bysupplemental heating enabled in known manner over highly heated silver,and to conduct electric current. The electric current if the gas chargedin this way by silver vapour may be applied as an are or as sparks for15 enters into a room containing well growing evaporating the silver, ifthe pole consists of cultures of hyphomy-cetes, yeasts, bacteria andsilver or a compound or alloy thereof or even microbes, these cultureswill show already after of a heating member, say a carbon, containingsome hours a restrained growth while under a such metal.

permanent influence of the silvered gas, the sur- It would also bepossible to circulate silver in a 20 face cultures on solidculture-media will be killed highly heated or in fused condition throughthe and liquid media will be disinfected thoroughly. gases to betreated; so, for example, a. continuous Furthermore, it has been foundthat if the silsilver band could be moved against the gas vered. gasleaving the tube be washed by distilled stream, or fused silver can bemade fall in drops water, even the latter, owing to the finedlstribuagainst this stream. The air can also be passed 25- tion of thesilver will show an increased bacover heated, fused or finely dividedsilver together terlcidal, that is, sterilizing action: porous or withthe heating gas like, for instance, hyd ogen finely divided bodies likek e lguh adsorptive and air are handled in case of Drummond's coal,cotton or the like. may obtain in the same light.

3Q way sterilizing properties and become at the In the manner described,as already mentioned, same time sterile. also silver compounds can bespread in a line 7 Thus, the said air containing silver vapours statethrough rooms, liquids or upon solid bodies may be used for thedisinfection of rooms, for by eva orating said compounds in a similarexample of hospitals, operating rooms, assemhlyway or by convertingevaporated silver in its rooms, as well as for the preservation andstorvapour form or even upon condensation. 35 age of easily perishablematters such as victuals. Instead of silver, silver alloys may be used,too.

Ithas, furthermore, been discovered that air 'what I claim is: v orgases containing silver vvapours may also be 1. A process for destroyingbacteria comprising produced by heating silver compounds in a vaporizinga. silver compound in a gaseous 40 stream f air V p 8 h Purpo medium,whereby said gaseous medium contains e. g. ceramic porous materials,such as Raschig finely divided silver and treating the bacteria rings orsimilar elementslofferinz a large surface therewith. and enabling at thesame time a favorable air 2. A process for destroying bacteriacomprising circulation, may be impregnated by silver nitrate, vaporizinga silver compound in air whereby said forinstanca'and then beputinaporcelain tube, air contains finely divided silver and treating 45which is externally heated by electricity or gas. the bacteriatherewlth.

Instead of silver nitrate also'other silver com- V RICHARD MfiILER.pounds may be used which in a heated condition

